Most of the stamps follow that same scenario, although I'm not sure when they used the paper label. Pictures of the stamp and the cymbals would be helpful. You'll definitely need tham to sell on eBay. I'm not the stamp expert here, and the "standard" timeline used to date old K's is being updated by its developer, Drumaholic, who posts here.. With images, he could tell you approximately how old the pair is, which is the first step to pricing them.

DO NOT CLEAN VINTAGE CYMBALS EVER! It will most likely lower the value, perhaps by a considerable amount. Collectors like a nice patina on them. Cleaning them will also affect the sound and could make them much less desirable and hence less valuable. You may have done yourself a disservice by cleaning one of them. How did you clean the cymbal?

Having said all that, I'm seen various pairs of old K hats going for $1200 or more a pair on eBay. Age, condition and sound, and how they look, will all play a big part in pricing.

It doesn't really matter if you cleaned them. As long as you didn't take any metal off.

I agree that taking metal off is the more serious problem which is why I asked how the cymbal was cleaned. However I do believe that by cleaning the cymbal and removing a nice patina, some potential bidders might lose interest and others might be concerned about the cleaning process. This could result in less interest and lower bids in a auction resulting in a lower selling price. On a nominally $1200 pair of hats, I could see it lowering the value by $100 or more.

It's all opinion. Just as there are guys who might loose interest because they are dirty. I do partially agree with you about most collectors wanting to do the cleaning themselves.

don't clean!!!

Prices can go for almost nothing to a small fortune. It really depends on what someone is willing to pay.

Good pictures (top, bottom, stamps and profile) and info (weight of each cymbal) also helps getting a good price.

sorry, but 'just as long as you dont take any metal off" for polishing is WAY off base. you even start to polish an old cymbal, and you immeadiately lose anywhere from 15-20% off the value. sounds dumb - but its very true. i STILL have an old set of pre 40's 14" K hats that just will not sell for what I want them to because the previous owner polished the absolute hell out of them (and no, didnt take any metal off). For some odd reason, tht guy got crazy with a buffer in his garage and tried to 'restore them' to look more 'updated" hahahahaha EPIC FAIL

The first rule for any antique, whether its a cymbal or a piece of art work or a piece of furniture is don't clean it, fix it, or modify it in any way without first evaluating its value and speaking with an expert. There are people that have done things like cleanup repair and restain $50,000 17th century desks thereby reducing the value by half.

When it comes to vintage cymbals, DrumBum3131 stated his opinion that cleaning them is no big deal, but I believe it is a big deal.

While for non-vintage cymbals clean and shiny may help a sale, all the drummers I know of who are interested in Old K's or old A's would be extremely upset if the seller cleaned the cymbal. I personally would lose interest in such a cymbal unless the price was so low I couldn't say no. Its not just the look that's the issue, its effect on the sound that a patina adds.

I try to bathe only during the months with the letter "e" in them. All the others, no go. That keeps me from wearing off the skin prematurely. It's just good common sense.

Cymbals? I've swabbed my share of old ones, but I've also left some alone. I guess it is just a feel thing with me. If I feel that the cymbal will open up and sound out better if I get the gunk out of the sound grooves (lathe marks) then I clean it. If it plays just fine dirty, I leave it alone.

I've never been concerned with value of a cymbal. It's an instrument and is meant to be played. If I get a cymbal that just sits there when the stick makes contact, then I make the decision to clean. If RotoRootering the grooves allows the disc to sing, then I clean. Why have the thing if it doesn't do what it was meant to do? That's my take.

But, if the cymbal plays good all dirty and nasty, then that's how I keep it. I play it as is.

Perhaps the top authority on vintage cymbals posts on this forum.

Here are a few links to his posts with pics of his cymbals.

You can decide for yourself if they have been cleaned or not.

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